Sports stats



WPS Sky Blue FC

Sky Blue FC Releases Preseason Roster

February 27, 2009 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Sky Blue FC News Release


SOMERSET, NJ (Feb. 27, 2009) - Sky Blue FC announced today the team's roster for its first preseason camp ever. The NJ/NY franchise of Women's Professional Soccer will start its camp on Sunday in Greensboro, NC and will remain there for 3 1/2 weeks in preparation for the league's inaugural season.

On the initial preseason roster, there are 30 hopefuls trying to stake their claim for a place on the Sky Blue FC squad for the season. Sky Blue FC will be missing six players during the early parts of the preseason due to national team commitments. Christie Rampone, Heather O'Reilly, Natasha Kai, and Kacey White are all currently in Portugal with the United States Women's National Team. Anita Asante (England) and Kelly Parker (Canada) are both slated to play in the Cyprus Cup. All six are expected to join their Sky Blue FC teammates by mid-March.

In addition to 22 players that were previously allocated, drafted or claimed, there will be eight players in camp on an invitational basis. These eight included five that were invited to preseason:

Krista Bobo - formerly with WUSA's Washington Freedom and New York Power and W-League's Atlanta Silverbacks Domenique Esposito - former Rutgers University standout and Jersey Sky Blue W-League player the past two seasons Noelle Keselica - former University of Virginia All-American recently played for Bälinge in Sweden Sophia Perez - Mexico National Team goalkeeper recently played for SD United in the WPSL Caroline Walden - four-year starter for Boston College is fresh off leading the Eagles defense In addition, three players were discovered through a try-out process earlier this week and invited to training camp:

Shannon Myers - Villanova University assistant coach was a four-year goalkeeper for Syracuse University Courtney Nash - long-time player for the West Michigan Firewomen in the W-League played for Saginaw Valley State Mary Velan - Stevens Institute of Technology assistant coached played for the Adirondack Lynx in the WPSL and collegiately for SUNY Oneonta According to WPS rules, each team may only maintain a roster of 28 players at any one time during the preseason. On March 13, each team is required to cut its roster down to 24 players. The final rosters of 18 players plus four development players will be announced on March 25.

SKY BLUE FC PRESEASON ROSTER Player (Last, First) Pos. Country College Last Club

Alexander, Cori GK USA Portland Seattle Sounders

Asante, Anita D England --- Chelsea Ladies

Averbuch, Yael M USA North Carolina Arsenal World Class

Bardsley, Karen GK England Cal-State Fullerton Pali Blues

Bobo, Krista D/M USA North Texas Atlanta Silverbacks

Buczkowski, Jen M USA Notre Dame Chicago Gaels

Cooper, Fanta D USA Wisconsin-Milwaukee Umeå Södra

Dowling, Keeley D USA Tennessee KIF Örebro

Esposito, Domenique M USA Rutgers Jersey Sky Blue

French, Mele F USA Oregon Pali Blues

Hammond, Jenny D USA Clemson Chicago Gaels

Keselica, Noelle M USA Virginia Bälinge

Kai, Natasha F USA Hawaii Kailua AA

McCallum, Collette M Australia --- Perth Glory

McDonnell, Mary Therese D Ireland Illinois Boston Renegades

Myers, Shannon GK USA Syracuse Lancaster Inferno

Nash, Courtney M/D USA Saginaw Valley State West Michigan Firewomen

O'Reilly, Heather M/F USA North Carolina New Jersey Wildcats

Parker, Kelly M Canada Texas-El Paso FC Indiana

Perez, Sophia GK Mexico San Diego State SD United

Rampone, Christie D USA Monmouth New York Power

Rosana M Brazil --- SV Neulengbach

Schnur, Megan M USA Connecticut New England Mutiny

Shaner, Christie D USA Notre Dame FC Indiana

Sitch, Julianne D USA DePaul FC Indiana

Velan, Mary F/MF USA Oneonta State Adirondack Lynx

Walden, Caroline D USA Boston College SoccerPlus Connecticut

Walsh, Sarah F Australia --- Sydney FC

White, Kacey M/F USA North Carolina Bälinge

Zhang, Ouying F China --- San Diego Sea Lions

How they were acquired:

USWNT Allocation: Natasha Kai, Heather O'Reilly, Christie Rampone

International Draft (Round in parentheses): Kelly Parker (4), Rosana (2), Sarah Walsh (1)

Post-Draft Discovery: Anita Asante, Collette McCallum

General Draft (Round in parentheses): Cori Alexander (1), Keeley Dowling (2), Jenny Hammond (4), Kacey White (3)

WPS 2009 Draft (Round in parentheses): Yael Averbuch (1), Karen Bardsley (3), Jen Buczkowski (6), Fanta Cooper (10), Mele French (9), Mary Therese McDonnell (8), Megan Schnur (2), Christie Shaner (4), Julianne Sitch (5), Ouying Zhang (7)

Invitation Players: Krista Bobo, Domenique Esposito, Noelle Keselica, Shannon Myers, Courtney Nash, Sophia Perez, Mary Valen, Caroline Walden

Tickets are now available for the 2009 WPS season. Sky Blue FC is offering a 2-Game Kickoff Package for the first two games of the season at TD Bank Ballpark as well as season and group ticket packages. Please visit www.SkyBlueStore.com to purchase your tickets. For more information, please call 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849) or e-mail tickets@skybluesoccer.com.



Women's Professional Soccer Stories from February 27, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central